Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 7th August 2025
Last updated
Wed 6th Aug 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Gale-force winds across higher mountains in Scotland all day; windy on tops for England and Wales, strongest in morning. Early rain clears southeastwards, leaving scattered showery rain but many places often dry. Cloud bases generally rising, though often covering west coastal mountains in Scotland.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales higher terrain. Brief showery rain, cloud breaks to tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, 35 to 50mph; generally strongest Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly difficult walking with height; general mobility strenuous where exposed. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Showery, tending to ease
Morning showers, frequent over an hour or two, most common west of A9. Becoming often dry, particularly eastern Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Tending to rise and break to high terrain
Cloud base varying; overall a rise in the base progressively eastward: Typically between 800 and 1000m west of A9, whilst near and east of Braemar, cloud rare below 900m with breaks to 1100m or higher.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%, rising to 80% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine rarely west of A9, to patches of sun elsewhere, particularly Deeside. Good visibility but a haze around A9 and west.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 9C. Will feel as cold as -5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 8th August 2025
Last updated
Wed 6th Aug 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 45-55mph, stronger gusts over high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking increasingly arduous; balance challenges will be constant in exposure. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Little rain expected
Spots of drizzly rain occasionally drift over Monadhliath mountains, amounting to very little.
Cloud on the hills?
High terrain fog tending to clear
From dawn, cloud fairly extensive over high terrain with some lower patches, notably Drumochter and nearby. Bases lifting to highest tops, likely clearing the tops at times, best clearing eastern Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Regular bursts of sun, most frequent northeast Cairngorms. Very good visibility though some haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10C, locally warmer on hills near and north of The Lecht. Feeling like -3C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 9th August 2025
Last updated
Wed 6th Aug 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 40 to 50mph, risk 60mph for periods on higher areas, especially Cairngorm plateau, may lessen later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging walking over exposed higher terrain, balance difficult, gusts could knock you over. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain mostly toward south/west
Rain on and off, locally more frequent for a few hours, heavier bursts Drumochter area. Smaller amounts north/east of Cairngorms. Breaking up to brief showers.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive higher areas, base rising
Covering higher slopes above 900-1100m, lower for a time in rain near/west of A9. Higher breaks forming in afternoon, though cloud likely to come and go on high tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mostly north/east areas. Slight haze, visibility reduced in rain, may improve during day.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C. Feeling like -5 to -8C in wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A mixed southwesterly weather pattern prevails. Often windy, especially Scotland. Fronts coming in from the Atlantic bringing periods of rain most frequently in west and northwest Scotland - wettest here around Friday night into early Saturday. Small amounts of rain reaching eastern Scotland, more often dry. Patchier and less frequent rain for western England and Wales - higher pressure building for periods to give drier and warmer weather here. Low cloud often shrouding western tops, sometimes to lower elevations near coasts, higher cloud bases eastwards with better breaks.